10 Places to Celebrate Christmas with Guaranteed Snow

This island to the north of Japan is popular with skiers due to its snow-covered slopes in winter. You'll find and eclectic mix of landscapes, including cityscapes, rugged mountains and vast wilderness. Take a banana boat ride on a frozen lake, relax in a hot spring or take a sightseeing tour in an ice breaker through the drift ice.

Rated as one of the world’s top ski resorts, Aspen also attracts the rich and famous to the Rocky Mountains. Besides the snow-based activities and culinary delights at glitzy restaurants, there are events and accommodations for all budget options. Head to the Aspen Highlands for some of the best skiing in the Rockies.

Zermatt is the ultimate haven for snow lovers because snow is guaranteed 365 days a year. As well as trails for all skiing abilities, the area offers relaxing spas and gourmet food. Explore one of the highest Alpine peaks, the Matterhorn, which overlooks Zermatt.

The Arctic Circle is part of Greenland, which guarentees snow all year. It also plays host to the Big Arctic Five: Whales, Huskies, Ice, Pioneering People and the Northern Lights. Avoid the Kiviak, though; it's a delicacy of fermented auk bird.

Christmas in Banff is celebrated like it is in many places — Santa, turkey, and of course, the gifts. All the festive staples are here but with the added benefit of being able to ski off some of those gluttonous yuletide calories. If shopping is more your bag, take a trip to the Banff Christmas Shop, Canada’s largest year-round Christmas store.

If you want to spend the holiday on the slopes, this is the place for you. The largest glacier ski resort in Austria can be found in the Stubai Valley, close to Innsbruck. It's a snow haven for skiers and snowboarders, and adventure seekers can explore the icy Stubai Glacier grotto.

Where there’s Santa, there’s snow! And as Rovaniemi is the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, it is the place to go for snow. Glossing over the fact that Santa obviously lives in the North Pole, Rovaniemi offers the full Christmas experience: reindeer, Lapland safaris and, of course, Santa himself. Rovaniemi is so focused on Christmas that even the town's layout is in the shape of a reindeer head.

If your dream of a snowy holiday is tinged with a touch of glamour, head off to St Moritz — the oldest and possibly most sophisticated winter holiday destination. This homeland of winter sports has hosted two Winter Olympics and provided hospitality for the rich and famous.

Whistler knows how to celebrate Christmas. Besides twinkling lights, snow-covered lodges and ice skating, the city also hosts a series of events. The highlight is the weekly Fire and Ice Show. Whistler’s top skiers and boarders jump and flip their way through a hoop of fire. The evening is topped off with a spectacular fireworks display.

For a white Christmas with a difference, why not try a winter camping trip to Alaska? If the potential for frostbite, temperatures as low as -40F or colder and the long Alaskan nights don’t put you off then this would be a holiday of a lifetime. With over six million acres of wilderness to explore this is a camping trip of epic proportions. You may have a long walk to the grocers to fetch your sprouts though.